Trip from Lyford, TX to Dallas, TX

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

9h 6m

Distance

486.2 mi

782 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$73

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

8h 58m ★

6 AM

9h 7m

8 AM

9h 23m

10 AM

9h 12m

12 PM

9h 11m

3 PM

9h 13m

5 PM

9h 22m

8 PM

9h 2m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Lyford, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Dallas, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Lyford to Dallas covers 517.8 miles, a journey that typically takes 7 hours and 45 minutes of driving time. Because this trip stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will experience a consistent landscape as you move north. While it is technically possible to complete the trek in a single day, be prepared for a long stint behind the wheel. Expect to budget roughly $77 for fuel to reach your destination. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, you might consider breaking the drive into two days, though the direct route makes a single-day push manageable for those comfortable with long-distance travel.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

243.1 miles from Lyford, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 54m into the drive .

Drive Character

You will start your journey on East Broadway Street before transitioning onto Interstate 69E and Highway 77. The route is characterized by a mix of local roads and major thoroughfares, requiring you to remain attentive as you navigate transitions between different highway types. With a highway share of 0%, you should anticipate varied speed limits and road conditions rather than a uniform interstate grind. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on East Broadway Street, so plan your initial focus accordingly. As you progress from the southern tip of the state toward Dallas, the road dynamics will shift, demanding consistent focus to maintain your steady pace.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 46 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Purple Heart Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 97.7 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

731 ft 23 ft

Total Climb

847 ft

Total Descent

452 ft

Highest Point

731 ft

~312.6 mi in

Elevation Range

708 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Purple Heart Trail and U.S. Highway 77. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 263.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 486.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 263.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 322.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 427.6 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 26 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

263.9 mi into trip | ~5h 20m in

Keep slight left at fork toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

322.9 mi into trip | ~6h 16m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 35 North: Waco

427.6 mi into trip | ~8h 4m in | I 35E

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 35E: Dallas

485.7 mi into trip | ~9h 5m in

Take the exit toward Continental Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 429A Toward Continental Avenue

485.9 mi into trip | ~9h 5m in | Continental Avenue

Turn right onto Continental Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Lyford, TX and Dallas, TX, road signs point toward Skidmore and Waco.

Skidmore

129.1 mi in | ~2h 39m

Waco

263.9 mi in | ~5h 20m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	97.7 mi	1h 39m
U.S. Highway 77	96.1 mi	1h 47m
Pickle Parkway	58.5 mi	54m
I 35E	58.1 mi	1h
US Highway 181 South	40.2 mi	45m
State Highway 80 North	30.8 mi	35m
State Highway 80	23.6 mi	25m
I 37	19.7 mi	19m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 97.7 mi, about 1h 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lyford, TX and Dallas, TX.

Start on East 8th Street

75 ft · 8 sec · East 8th Street

Turn left onto US 77 Business

0.2 mi · 27 sec · US 77 Business

Turn left onto Spur 112

0.3 mi · 41 sec · East Broadway Street

Turn left onto Interstate 69E Frontage Road

0.4 mi · 45 sec · Interstate 69E Frontage Road

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Merge onto I 69E; US 77

71 mi · 1 hr 20 min · U.S. Highway 77

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 14 sec

Merge onto I 69E; US 77

1.2 mi · 1 min · I 69E; US 77

Continue on U.S. Highway 77

12 mi · 12 min · U.S. Highway 77

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Turn straight onto US Highway 77 Frontage Road

485 ft · 17 sec · US Highway 77 Frontage Road

Turn right onto County Road 10

1.0 mi · 4 min · County Road 10

Turn left onto County Road 79

4.0 mi · 15 min · County Road 79

Turn left onto County Road 18

0.2 mi · 43 sec · County Road 18

Turn sharp right

1.1 mi · 2 min

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 57 sec

Merge onto US 77

2.3 mi · 2 min · Driscoll Bypass

Continue on US 77

13 mi · 14 min · U.S. Highway 77

Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E

1.4 mi · 1 min · I 37; US 77; I 69E

Keep slight left at fork

1.3 mi · 1 min

Continue on I 37

18 mi · 18 min · I 37

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec

Toward TX 359: Mathis, Skidmore

Turn right onto TX 359

12 mi · 16 min · State Highway 359

At end of road, turn left onto US 181

0.8 mi · 55 sec · South 8th Street

Continue on US 181

40 mi · 45 min · US Highway 181 South

Continue on US 181

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive

Turn right onto TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239

233 ft · 3 sec · East Main Street

Continue on FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Helena Road

Turn straight onto TX 80

24 mi · 25 min · State Highway 80

Continue on TX 80

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Nixon Avenue

Continue on TX 80; TX 97

31 mi · 35 min · State Highway 80 North

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · South Colorado Street

Continue on US 183

0.2 mi · 16 sec · United States Highway 183

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 35 sec

Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · Pickle Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Toward I 35 North: Waco Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35

65 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E

58 mi · 1 hr · I 35E

Toward I 35E: Dallas Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Exit 429A Toward Continental Avenue Use the slight right lane.

Turn right onto Continental Avenue

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Continental Avenue

Use the right lane.

Turn slight right onto North Lamar Street

433 ft · 10 sec · North Lamar Street

Arrive at destination

North Lamar Street

Trip Plan

To tackle this 517.8-mile stretch successfully, aim for an early morning departure to maximize daylight hours and avoid potential traffic near your destination. You should plan for at least two designated stops to stretch your legs and reset, which helps keep fatigue at bay during the 7-hour and 45-minute transit. Given the $77 fuel cost, keep an eye on your gauge as you transition between Highway 77 and the interstate system to ensure you don't run low in more isolated segments. Since this is a substantial day of driving, verify your vehicle's maintenance before leaving Lyford to ensure a smooth transition across the Texas landscape. Flexibility is your best asset here, so don't hesitate to adjust your break schedule if you feel your concentration wavering.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 243.1 miles from Lyford, TX, or about 4h 54m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.7 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 107 miles or 2h 17m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 243.1 miles or 4h 54m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 243.1 miles or 4h 54m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 8h 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dallas, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Lyford, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Lyford, TX

Aim for roughly 243 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Dallas, TX

Aim for roughly 243 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 107 miles from Lyford, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 97.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 243.1 mi from Lyford, TX · 4h 54m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Austin, TX

243 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Austin, TX

Popular next leg

Austin, TX to Dallas, TX

195.4 mi · 3h 26m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Austin, TX

243 mi · about 4.6h in

A practical overnight split lands near Austin, TX after about 243 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Corpus Christi, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 107 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Austin, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 243.1 miles from Lyford, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.7 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 243 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.

Arriving in Dallas, TX

The final approach into Dallas, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Dallas, TX.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Dallas, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$73.47 one way

$146.93 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 170 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$80.41	$160.83
premium	$4.54	$86.81	$173.62
diesel	$5.61	$107.35	$214.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$73

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$203–$313

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 170.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $51 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	145.9	1	$51.05	$23.34
Efficient EV	121.6	1	$42.54	$19.45
EV Truck/SUV	194.5	2	$68.07	$31.12

Gas CO2

170 kg

EV CO2

57 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026

Origin

Lyford, TX

Afternoon in Lyford on Thursday

Local time

2:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dallas, TX

Afternoon in Dallas on Thursday

Local time

2:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

85°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 10 to 15 mph 11% chance Live forecast

High Wind Watch

High Wind Watch issued April 12 at 11:58PM MDT until April 14 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 13 at 12:38AM CDT until April 13 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

18 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

9h 6m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Lyford, TX to Dallas, TX covers 486.2 miles and takes about 9h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, U.S. Highway 77, Pickle Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 243 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 243.1 miles from Lyford, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $73.47 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Lyford, TX and Dallas, TX, road signs point toward Skidmore and Waco.

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Trip from Lyford, TX to Dallas, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

Elevation Profile

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Dallas, TX

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Lyford, TX

Dallas, TX

Same local time

18 degrees warmer at arrival

9h 6m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore More

Continue From Dallas, TX

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